West Milford CASA targets underage drinking

By David M. Zimmer

STAFF WRITER |

Suburban Trends

West Milford's Community Against Substance Abuse (CASA) has a new campaign.

In partnership with United For Prevention in Passaic County and the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA), the municipal committee wants to make the community aware that "Parents Who Host Lose The Most." Signs bearing the slogan have been posted around the township in recent weeks to coincide with the ongoing high school graduation celebration season attempting to make local parents aware of the consequences of hosting underage drinking parties, including legal liability.

"Drinking and driving continue to be the most obvious consequences of underage drinking; there are many others, such as sexual assault, violence and other risky behaviors," a recent release from CASA states. "(According to) SAMHSA, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, over half of high school related drinkers get their alcohol from adults, and one-half of those adults are parents or other family members."

United For Prevention is providing the materials for the nation-wide campaign throughout the county. Created by the Drug Free Action Alliance, "Parents Who Host Lose The Most: Don't be a party to teenage drinking" has been deemed effective in increasing knowledge of underage drinking laws and preventing parents from hosting teen drinking parties by a Miami University Applied Research Center study.

New Jersey law considers serving alcohol to an underage person, enticing an underage person to drink, or knowingly permitting drinking on your property to be a misdemeanor. A $500 to $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail are possible for violators. Violating municipal underage drinking law is a non-criminal offense that comes with a $250 first-offense fee. West Milford's law does not prohibit underage drinking "in the presence of and with the permission of a parent, guardian, or relative who has attained the legal age to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages."

CASA formed in 1989 with the incorporation of the West Milford Youth and Family Counseling Committee. It currently funds senior citizen activities, conflict resolution training and a summer camp for middle school students, the high school's Project Graduation, as well as other teen programs focused on strategically fighting substance abuse in the community. It currently meets at the Hillcrest Community Center, generally on the second Monday of January, March, May, September, and November. Meetings are open to the public as well as prospective members and start at 7 p.m.

Information on substance abuse can be found at the Hillcrest Community Center as well as Westbrook Park's teen center.

West Milford CASA targets underage drinking

By David M. Zimmer

STAFF WRITER |

Suburban Trends

West Milford's Community Against Substance Abuse (CASA) has a new campaign.

In partnership with United For Prevention in Passaic County and the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA), the municipal committee wants to make the community aware that "Parents Who Host Lose The Most." Signs bearing the slogan have been posted around the township in recent weeks to coincide with the ongoing high school graduation celebration season attempting to make local parents aware of the consequences of hosting underage drinking parties, including legal liability.

"Drinking and driving continue to be the most obvious consequences of underage drinking; there are many others, such as sexual assault, violence and other risky behaviors," a recent release from CASA states. "(According to) SAMHSA, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, over half of high school related drinkers get their alcohol from adults, and one-half of those adults are parents or other family members."

United For Prevention is providing the materials for the nation-wide campaign throughout the county. Created by the Drug Free Action Alliance, "Parents Who Host Lose The Most: Don't be a party to teenage drinking" has been deemed effective in increasing knowledge of underage drinking laws and preventing parents from hosting teen drinking parties by a Miami University Applied Research Center study.

New Jersey law considers serving alcohol to an underage person, enticing an underage person to drink, or knowingly permitting drinking on your property to be a misdemeanor. A $500 to $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail are possible for violators. Violating municipal underage drinking law is a non-criminal offense that comes with a $250 first-offense fee. West Milford's law does not prohibit underage drinking "in the presence of and with the permission of a parent, guardian, or relative who has attained the legal age to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages."

CASA formed in 1989 with the incorporation of the West Milford Youth and Family Counseling Committee. It currently funds senior citizen activities, conflict resolution training and a summer camp for middle school students, the high school's Project Graduation, as well as other teen programs focused on strategically fighting substance abuse in the community. It currently meets at the Hillcrest Community Center, generally on the second Monday of January, March, May, September, and November. Meetings are open to the public as well as prospective members and start at 7 p.m.

Information on substance abuse can be found at the Hillcrest Community Center as well as Westbrook Park's teen center.